How I Met Your Mother Season 7: A New Chapter to Come

But How I Met Your Mother creator Carter Bays says he was sold on the actor as Marshall's new boss due to Short's dramatic turn on Damages last year.

"[His character] is going to be funny, but there is going to be some more serious stuff, too, since we deal with the full spectrum of human emotion on our show," Bays tellsEntertainment Weekly. "And Martin Short is such a diverse talent.”

Short will debut on the September 19 (one-hour!) premiere.

Bays bills the upcoming season as "a new chapter for all the characters" and explains why:

Aside from the greatest criticism about HIMYM which the exact timeline/continuity problem, I can't wait for Martin Short to come on the show. I'm can't wait to see if Barney decides to marry Nora or Robin or neither...